“It took me a little time to realise that I was not living in an environment where people’s anger and lust was totally out of control. That I need not cast glances over my shoulder every time someone was behind me. That was liberating indeed.”
“I can imagine. Things did get a bit better down there over the last few centuries though. I guess one of the objectives of civilisation was restraining those primitive instincts and making people think more about their actions,” replied Ed with insight before adding, “What sort of life did you have out there? What was your profession, where were you born?”
“I was born in the countryside but do not recall much about my childhood. I think I repressed it. I do remember being beaten by my father numerous times but not much more than that. I left home, moved to London and did a cooking apprenticeship before moving on to one of the larger London bakeries. T’was nothing special. I never got married, had children or anything of the sort. Most importantly I managed to avoid getting press-ganged into the navy or army. That would truly have been a miserable fate. Anyway, I am content here now.”
“I can see that. I’m not sure it’s for me though.”
“Everyone feels differently. Verily, you have time to decide. T’is my advice to stay a while and rest. The quality of slumber here is truly wondrous, the finest you will ever have. There is a calmness that soothes in this place.”
“Really?” replied Ed as they turned tail and headed back into the tunnels.
“Oh look, Bob’s forgotten his helmet,” he exclaimed, as he picked it up and carried it along with them.
“Even if he lost it, he would wake up with it beside him come the morn. These are permanently part of our existence; we can never get be free of them. If you were to leave your jacket here and see what may befall it, it would forsooth be beside you in the morrow.”
“It goes against all my instincts. Besides, I was dreaming of dressing in it again when I was marooned as a tortoise.”
“I understand. Are you of a mind to meet some of the others, Ed? They are a little shy but I am certain you would receive a hearty welcome. We do not see a new face every day.”
“Maybe tomorrow, if that’s okay? I’m more than a bit fazed out by everything that’s gone on over the last few days. It’s all moving by so fast, it’s very disorienting and hard to come to terms with.”
“I understand your meaning. If t’is any help, that is something to which you become accustomed. The four-day transient window most certainly gives a feeling of time speeding by.”
“I’m sure. I still can’t come to terms with the idea that I’m actually dead though. I feel it just happened with so much unfinished and left to complete. Strangely it’s the little things that stay in my mind, the shower gel left in the bottle, the half-finished biscuits and the dentist appointment I always meant to make. I don’t want to leave it there, Thomas,” replied Ed, feeling a wave of despondency engulfing him.
A long considered silence ensued, Thomas not sure what he could say to comfort the individual as they continued their hike. It was Ed that broke the hush some two or three minutes later.
“Anyway, what language does everyone speak down here? Is it all English? Do they all have a ‘Tudor bent’ like you?”
“Not at all. English is the most common, but we have every language you can imagine here. It can be more than strange at first if we cannot communicate, but we usually muddle by or have someone translate. Having said that, we have so much time on our hands, many become multi-lingual. Forsooth, I thought I had already lost my ‘Tudor bent’, as you call it.”
“Same with Transients out there as well I guess, speaking the language they did when they were alive?”
“Exactly. T’is why you were fortunate indeed to meet an English speaker on your first encounter.”
“You’re right there, Thomas.”
“If you do decide to continue your journey, Ed, I would suggest you try and take your time at certain destinations. Take rest and sleep for a few days if you’re somewhere safe. You are at the beginning now but after a while, Transients really need to take stock.”
“I’ll bear that in mind, Thomas, thanks,” replied Ed, as they continued on their way. Ed began to reflect on what chance he might have to get his old life back. All these stories and far-fetched goings-on could easily be a dream, albeit a very nasty and realistic one. Maybe he’d had an accident and was in a coma in hospital, waiting for his brain power to propel him back to consciousness.
His mind churned away exhaustively at different scenarios. Tiredness was beginning to get the better of him and his walking had become heavy and weary. The whole episode had worn him down, being pulled from the flow with the crook and then all the journeying back and forth in the tunnels whilst being bombarded by unbelievable revelations. Ed knew he needed to sleep and gather his psychological powers to grasp the situation and get a little more empowered. Thomas was aware of Ed’s state and slowed his pace accordingly.